how the story ends

you can't

help yourself, typing in the name,

peering over the fence

in a safe

and secure cyber way.

you just want

to know

what you don't know, for no

reason other than

your insatiable urge

to turn

the next page.

you want to see how their

story turns

out before

you shelve that book

and put it away.

you want to know when

their ship

sinks,

when the wheels come off,

you want to know

how that disaster

ends,

like in the Perils of Pauline,

not hoping, but imagining

that it ends

in flames.